Safety kit scheme fails to hook trawler owners

Safety kit scheme fails to hook trawler owners
Vibha Verma
PANJIM AUG 19
Even after a year, the Central government’s scheme of supplying safety equipment to fishermen is yet to be accepted completely. Of the four major fishing jetties at Malim, Cutbona, Vasco and Chapora, only first two jetties have been supplied with Garmin marine devices.
Speaking to the media, Fisheries Director S C Verenkar said that the supply was in quick response to proposals put forth by trawler owners belonging from respective fishing jetties. “Basically, trawler owners were not aware of the scheme and if some of them did know, they lacked financial backing,” the director replied to a question on the poor response to the scheme.
The safety device kit comprises a global positioning system (GPS), very high frequency (VHF) wireless sets and fish finders, fitted in each of the trawlers. The kits under the scheme – supply of safety equipments under development of marine fisheries – are supplied by Mega Soft Pvt Ltd, who is the authorised dealer of Garmin Equipments in Goa. 
Verenkar stated that the department has received 150 fresh proposals from more trawler owners including Cortalim fishing jetty.
When the 90-lakhs scheme was announced to fishermen across the coastal states, the government assured to bear 75 percent of the total expense of the kit, each of which costs about Rs 70,000.
Whereas, the remaining 25 percent had to be borne by each of the trawler owners. Verenkar informed Herald that 118 trawler owners at Malim jetty and 73 from Curbona society have already received these devices.
Chairman of the Mandovi Fishermen Cooperative Society Menino Afonso stated that of the total only 88 trawlers boats are outfitted with the devices.
Each of the kits helps trace location of the trawler, communicate immediately without any hindrance and spot deep sea fish.
According to an officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the sensitization on the benefit of these devices to fishing trawler owners/fishermen is yet to take a proper shape, with the Goan coastline always on terror radar.
Fears were raised on the vulnerability of 110-kms long coastline after the Mumbai terror attack in 2008.
The Goa government in its performance budget tabled before the legislative assembly, last year, said it will provide trawler owners walkie talkies and distress alert transmitters in a bid to secure its coastline.
The government also set aside Rs 1 crore to enhance security measures for fishermen in view of terror threats from sea.
“There is no mode of communication between boats, canoes, vessels at the shore. Communicating through mobile phones is not reliable and lacks sufficient coverage. Already we are setting up VHF tower stations, which will enhance communications,” he said.
Nearly 8,500 fishermen, majority of whom belong from the south and eastern parts of the country are employed on more than 1000 fishing vessels at different fish landing jetties.